7. A Fall From Grace.

CHLOE.

"Oh, my head!"

I woke up with a splitting headache, feeling like someone had smashed a hammer on my skull. I didn't expect to be in someone else mansion.

"Oh my goodness," I groaned at the most intense pain I had ever felt in my body and opened my eyes, only to see a strange ceiling above me. I didn't know how long I had been out but I immediately didn't recognize the place I woke up in.

Where was I? This wasn't my room or my father's mansion.

"Daddy?" I called out, hoping he would hear me and explain where I was since he was the last person I remembered seeing before I blacked out.

My mind briefly reeled back to something he had said about an arranged marriage, but I didn't believe him. He wouldn't do that to me. He loved me too much to do that over Jess's stupid death.

"Dad!" I shouted louder, hoping someone would come to my aid. A servant, a guard, anyone. But no one answered. No one came. I was alone in this unfamiliar beautiful room.

Or so I thought.

I turned my head to my left and saw a man sitting in a dark chair in the corner of the room. He had sandy shoulder-length brown hair pushed back and piercing blue eyes that seemed to stare right through me.

He was handsome but had a cold aura around him. He didn't look like he cared about me at all.

"Who are you?" I asked, trying to sound brave. "Where am I?"

He smirked, took a swig at his whisky cup, and stood up, walking towards me with a confident stride.

He wore a black suit that fit him perfectly, showing off his muscular physique. He looked like someone powerful, someone who was used to getting what he wanted.

I swallowed hard.

"I'm Alpha James Black of Yellowstone," he said, stopping at the edge of the bed and placing his glass on a side table next to him. "Your fiancé."

Fia- what?!

I blinked owlishly, thinking I had misheard him. My fiancé? What was he talking about?

I felt nothing but contempt for him. My mind reeled back to my father informing me that he was going to arrange a marriage for me. I couldn't believe he meant what he said.

Pinching my leg hard, I knew this was no dream but reality.

Oh crap!

My stomach churned uncontrollably. I felt the need to leave wherever this was and go back home to Daddy immediately.

"You're in my mansion, in my pack," he continued as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "We're getting married in a week. Your father agreed to it. He left after making sure you were settled in."

I laughed with a straight face, thinking he was joking. He had to be joking. There was no way my father would leave me alone. There was no way he would sell me off to a stranger, I had never met before. Besides, I didn't pack anything for this trip to stay long enough to get married.

"You're lying," I said, forcing my aching body to sit up and face him square in the eyes. "You're lying and I don't believe you. Where is my father? I want to see him."

He shook his head, his expression turning serious. "I'm not lying, Chloe. This is the truth. Your father and I made a marriage alliance. Our union is the perfect solution to end our pack's problems,"

I felt a surge of anger, mixed with fear and disbelief.

How was my marrying him going to solve our pack's problems I didn't care to know about...

We were not a match. We were not anything. I didn't even know him. I didn't want to marry him because he looked too controlling and I hated being controlled. Even Daddy knew that.

I got up from the bed, ignoring the pain in my head. I had to get out of here. I had to find a way to escape back home. I had to find my father and make him explain why he pulled such a prank on me.

I stumbled towards the door, but I was still dizzy from the unknown pill I had taken earlier. As an ordinary wolf-less girl, I was just a plain old human who could easily be injured, or drugged.

I wobbled and almost fell, but strong arms caught me just in time before I could hit the floor.

James had wrapped his arms around me, holding me close to his chest, and for a second, I almost lost myself in his mesmerizing eyes.

What an eye candy! Too bad I didn't feel anything for him.

I felt his warm breath on my neck, his heartbeat against mine. I felt his scent, a mix of wood and spice. I felt a faint tingling sensation in between my legs.

I hated it as much as I hated him.

Get your shit together Chloe. I blinked owlishly to snap out of my mini daze.

"Let me go," I demanded, pushing him away. "Let me go, you bastard. I don't need your help. I don't want this stupid arranged marriage, "

He raised his eyebrows and smirked. "As you wish, princess." He released me and let me fall hard to the floor like a sack of potatoes with a loud thud noise.

"Awe," I gasped and groaned as pain shot through my body.

How could he do that? I glared at him, feeling angry and humiliated.

He leaned over me and whispered in my ear just enough for me to feel his ticklish warm breath caress my skin.

My body hitched while a million thoughts went through my head.

Did he want to kiss me even after telling him off that I didn't want this? Time stood still waiting for him to do what he wanted to do with me.

"Don't think I'm happy about this, Chloe. You're not my choice. You're just a burden I have to bear. Don't expect anything from me, because you'll get nothing." he said in a husky voice that sent delicious tingles to my core for a brief moment.

My brain recalled him saying that I was just a burden to bear and shouldn't expect anything from him.

Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I didn't care what he thought, I didn't care what he said. He was not my boyfriend, he's not my choice either. He was just a mistake I had to avoid getting hitched to.

"Ha ha, very funny," I faked a sarcastic laugh, "Don't worry Alpha, my heart belongs to another. I, too can never marry you, I can never love you. You're wasting your time with me because you'll get nothing." I spat coldly.

He scoffed and then straightened up with clenched his fists. He looked furious and hurt by my words. I didn't care. He deserved it for dropping me on the hard floor and telling me that I was a burden.

"Meet me downstairs in five minutes," He turned around and walked away. He didn't look back. He left me alone on the floor, in pain and despair.

I didn't care to meet him downstairs like he ordered. In fact, I was glad he was gone.

I scoffed and wiped my eyes. I didn't need him, I didn't want him.

My main goal was to get out of here and find my way to Jake and be with him like we had always planned.

I looked around and saw a huge open window. Maybe I could escape through there.

I got up and limped towards it, hoping for a quick easy escape.

I had to find my true love who held my heart and make things right with him.

I had no choice. I had to escape this nightmare.

I spent at least half an hour tying together the bedsheets I got from the bed, hoping they would be long enough to reach the ground.

This will do...

Pushing the window to further open, I threw the makeshift rope outside. I looked down and saw the driveway below. I felt a surge of fear, but also a glimmer of hope.

When I get down there, I will hotwire a car and leave this place… Besides how hard could it be to achieve my goal when I had seen it done a hundred times in action movies?

I grabbed the bedsheets and climbed out of the window, careful not to make any noise. I began to descend, feeling the summer air on my face and the rough fabric on my hands. I was halfway down when I heard a loud snap. I looked up and saw the bedsheets coming undone. I gasped and clutched the remaining part, trying to hold on. I was too far from the window to climb back up, and too high from the ground to jump. I was trapped.

Oh crap! My stomach twisted nervously.

I looked around, hoping to see someone who could help me. There was no and the only person I could call on was my so-called arrogant fiance, Alpha James.

I swallowed my pride and called out his name. "Alpha! Alpha, please help me!" I hoped he would hear me, but I also hoped he wouldn't. I didn't want to see his smug face, his cold eyes, his cruel smile. I didn't want to owe him anything.

I waited for a few seconds, but there was no response. I called out again, louder. "Alpha! Alpha, where are you?" I heard a window open, but it wasn't mine. It was the one next to mine,

James leaned out of the window. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and amusement. He said something, but I couldn't hear him over the wind. I shouted back, "Help me! Please, help me!"

He raised his eyebrows and smiled. He said something else, but I still couldn't hear him. I felt the bedsheets slipping from my fingers. I screamed, "Hurry! I'm falling!"

He nodded and disappeared from the window. I hoped he would come down and catch me, but I also hoped he wouldn't.

Oh goddess, this is so embarrassing...

Suddenly, I felt the bedsheets tear, I closed my eyes bracing myself for impact.

My hands slipped and I didn't know if that arrogant prick of an Alpha would save me on time.

Oh, how I wished my Jake was around...